Doctora scores hat-trick as Stallion pounces Socceroo

MANILA, Philippines- Stallion FC striker Ruben Doctora tallied a hat-trick as his club blazed through Team Socceroo FC, 4-1, during the second weekend of action of the first division of the United Football League at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on Saturday, February 14.

The intensity of the match between the two squads escalated quickly a Socceroo’s goalkeeper Guilherme Hasegawa conceded a penalty after tackling OJ Clariño deep inside the box.

Azkals and Stallion FC defender Simone Rota converted the 12-yard kick and took the lead for his team in the 22^nd minute.

Socceroo, on the other hand, fought valiantly by capitalizing on counter-attacks to spark a run of their own but their chances did not punch through the defense of their foes.

Doctora opened his three-goal outing with a precision shot off a pass from the right flank from Rota, extending Stallion’s lead to 2-0 59 minutes into the match.

Not long after, another goal came through for the Ernest Nierras-mentored platoon as Doctora found the back of the net for the second time during the game.

Adding to the misfortunes of Socceroo, Hasegawa went down after a collision with a Stallion FC player, prompting his team’s bench to send in second-string shot stopper Marco Poli.

Stallion did not rest their blitzes until the end of their bout against Socceroo as Doctora’s relentless attack towards the goal led to a mistake by Poli, giving the 28-year old forward a clear shot on goal.

Despite being down 4-0 in the final minutes of the second half, Team Socceroo’s frontline did not lose hope on etching a goal as Jerome Cuyos flicked in the only goal for his club a minute into stoppage.

Meanwhile, defending league champs Global FC shrugged of the pesky Pachanga Diliman FC, 2-1, to snatch their first win in the league.

The silent match took a turn in favor of the champs as Amani Aguinaldo tapped the ricocheting ball between the sticks in the 35^th minute, giving his club a 1-0 lead going into the half.

As time expired, Global’s lead was doubled as Satoshi Otomo managed to break free from his defenders and take a shot on Pachanga’s goal in the final minute of injury time. – Rappler.com